Chapter 2

New life new car

In the parking lot, filled with cars all fancier than the last, Vanya quickly turned her head from one side to the other, trying to find her car, something she thought would be easy.

However, after going through two parking levels, looking from Audi to Audi, she realized it wasn't going to be so easy at all.

Pressing the key fob, she listened for a beep, anything that would let her know where her car was.

Finally, after making it halfway through the parking lot, she heard a sharp beep and Vanya sighed, relieved.

Walking to the direction of the sound, her eyes widened when she looked at the car and she instantly understood why she had such a hard time finding it.

Unsure as to what model her car would be, she had been looking for a cheaper, middle-class affordable Audi, the one low tire businessman had, but that was not the case. The car she stood in front of, looking at in shock, was too elegant, and incredibly expensive-looking to cost less than two a hundred grand.

Eyes wide, mouth falling open, she began to walk around the car, not once believing this was hers. However, when the car beeped one more time it was proven that, indeed, this was her car.

Taking a step back to look at it, she took it all in, once again wondering how on earth she was able to all afford this? In her own timeline, she could barely even afford her old rundown apartment, struggling to make ends meet. Obviously this wasn't the case in this timeline, seeing as she and Five are rich, but then there was the question how? From what he said this morning it seems that Five works at some university as some sort of scientist, and was probably high up in his profession. A career like that would grant him a bit of income but not to this level. Sure, they are the adopted children of a billionaire, but she doubted their father so much as gave them a penny. When he died there was never any talk about any will or inheritance of any kind. She hadn't put it past him to leave them with nothing just so he could have the last laugh. That being said, she doubted this reality's Reginald was any better.

When she heard a soft click of a camera in the distance, followed by a faint flash, Vanya jumped on the spot, snapping out of her thoughts.

Frowning for a second, she looked around the parking lot, looking for whoever had taken the picture but came up empty.

Thinking it was just her imagination, being on edge, she shook her head and got in the car. It had probably been something else, after all, who on earth would take pictures or her?

Now inside the car, behind at the wheel, she was instantly overwhelmed by all the controls in front of her. Starting with the simplest thing, she looked for somewhere to place the key to start the car, but when she couldn't find it, she wracked her brain. Eventually, her eyes landed on a small red button that said, 'start engine,' and she gently pressed it, nearly jumping out of her seat when the engine came to life, practically growling at her.

Grabbing the steering wheel tightly, brows knitting together as she took in a sharp breath, she half expected the car to somehow go flying even though she hadn't pressed anything. When that didn't happen, however, the engine just stayed in a low growling sound, she looked around the car.

She didn't have the first clue as to how to drive a car like this, one that could no doubt have her hitting one hundred miles per hour in less than a second. Not to mention, that she doubted that a car like this was automatic. She wasn't the car enthusiast of the family, she didn't even know the car model, just that it's an expensive Audi. The ones that were car enthusiast was Diego and Five, but mostly fascinated with the engineering aspect of it. However, from what she remembered Diego saying, sports cars are usually manual and not automatic, and of course, there's the fact that she has no idea how to drive with manual transmission. Not to mention that she didn't see a gear shifter anywhere.

Taking in a deep breath, she thought she might give it a try and see what happens. It was either that or taking public transit which, now that she knows what kind of car she has, she wasn't too keen on doing.

Barely pressing on the accelerator, she was initially startled by the growling engine behind her. However, when that feeling passed, she strangely found herself going into a bit trance-like state soon after.

Almost as if her body knew what it was doing, she found the shifting paddles behind the wheel and began to smoothly drive the car out of the parking lot, as if it was second nature to her.

With wide eyes, and gaping mouth she drove the car through the lavish gates of the apartment and onto the city streets, driving better than she'd ever had before.

Completely surprised, she looked from the dashboard to the street. She didn't know how, but she somehow knew how to drive the car. Knew that she needed to put it in comfort mode, not at all shocked when the car threw her forwards slightly and then back in a matter of a second, completely having expected it.

Could it be that some of the knowledge and skills Vanya of this reality has got transferred to her? It's the only explanation because otherwise, she would have totalled the car before she even managed to get out of the parking lot.

Trying not to think too hard on it, finding herself doing that a lot since she woke up just to keep herself sane, she drove the car through the busy streets. Even if she somehow got the city knowledge, and street layout from this Vanya, she didn't need it. She knew the city like the back of her hand.

Remembering her way back to the apartment, she drove to Griddy's, being not far from the apartment. However, due to heavy traffic, she arrived thirty minutes later.

As she parked the car she noticed a few people eyeing her, no doubt checking out the car. However, when she turned off the ignition, they looked away and went about their business.

Making sure the doors were locked, Vanya gave the car one last look, not wanting to leave it there all alone in a not so great neighbourhood. But ultimately, she just left it there and opened the door to the donut shop.

As she opened the doors, the sweet smell of donuts and coffee wafted around her, hitting her nose, instantly giving her a feeling of nostalgia.

Standing by the door for a second, she looked at the donut shop with a half-smile when all those memories of her childhood came to her. She remembered every time she and her siblings sneaked out of the house dead at night to get some donuts, somehow fitting all seven of them in one of the booths, smiling and laughing as they somehow didn't give themselves diabetes. She remembered how Five would mischievously dare Diego to eat as many donuts in under a minute, knowing that it would only make Diego sick, but Diego didn't seem to realize that as he would always take on the challenge much to Five's amusement. How Klaus, Luther, Ben and Five would laugh at Diego after realizing his mistake, while she and Allison would roll their eyes. How they would return back to the academy feeling sick and bloated but still looking forward to going back. Of course, there was never a next time, not after Five disappeared, much less after Ben died. Without both of them there, it just felt wrong.

Her smile fell.

Stepping inside the shop, the door closed behind her.

Despite how long it's been since she's been here, nothing seems to have changed much, finding that oddly comforting. She may be in a completely different reality, but at least Griddy's still the same old Griddy's.

Looking for a spot to sit in, she quickly found one, not having to look very far seeing as the shop was empty, something she found surprising.

Over the years it seems Griddy's lost some of its popularity. When she used to come here with her siblings as kids it used to be jammed packed most of the time. Now, however, there was one person occupying one of the booths and two other people sitting by the counter, busy reading the newspaper. Of course, it's still morning and it is a school day.

Taking a sit on one of the stools, she propped her elbows on the counter and looked at the only waitress behind said counter.

Looking up from her cleaning, the older lady noticed her and put down the small towel, and made her way to where she sat, taking out a small notebook from her breast pocket. When she was finally in front of her, the waitress opened her mouth when her eyes landed on her and her eyes widened.

Frowning, Vanya looked from side to side and then behind her, thinking that maybe she was looking at something else. However, when she was convinced that she was looking at her, Vanya's cheeks reddened, feeling self-conscious. Was she sitting somewhere she wasn't supposed to be sitting? Is there something on her face?

For a long few seconds, the waitress kept staring at her with the same wide eyes, and shocked expression, until she seemed to re-gather herself. At first, Vanya thought the waitress would make a comment, or explain why she was looking at her in such a manner, but then she simply cleared her throat and raised her little notebook to take her order.

"What will you be having dear?"

Stomach grumbling ins response, she was made aware of how hungry she was. In her haste to get out of the apartment, she hadn't realized that she had left without eating breakfast, something she usually forgot anyways. However, seeing how her body was demanding food, it was clear that this Vanya was used to eating breakfast every morning. Unfortunately, however, she was at a donut shop, it's unlikely they sell anything without any sugar except for coffee.

After a second to think it over, she came up with the most generic order she could come up with.

"I'll have a coffee, two creams, two sugars and a glazed chocolate donut please."

The friendly waitress nodded, writing her order down before leaving.

Thinking how odd the waitress was behaving, especially as she kept staring at her as she made her coffee, Vanya took out her phone to distract her from the strangeness.

Unlocking her phone, she opened the safari app and searched up the first, most pressing thing that had been in her mind for a while.

Ben Hargreeves

She typed into the search bar and pressed enter.

Hundreds of results came up, and she was presented with a few of his pictures, a lot of them from his time in the academy, small boy, covered in blood and wearing his domino mask. However, her eyes were set on the most recent picture of him.

Eyes glistening, Vanya placed her hand over her mouth.

It was just a headshot of Ben, wearing what seemed to be a lab coat. However, what had her nearly crying right there and there was the genuine smile on his lips, not to mention how he had aged. Last time she saw Ben he had been fourteen years old, just a kid. Ever since he had died she always found herself wondering what he, and also Five, would have looked like all grown up. Five, she now knew, in great detail, but Ben? It made her chest fill with happiness with how he had grown up but still had the same, tender soft eyes as before.

Before she really did end up crying like an idiot over a picture, the waitress came back and placed a mug and a plate with a donut in front of her.

Looking up, she swallowed the sob that was trying to escape her throat and thanked the waitress. Reaching inside her pocket to get her wallet, the waitress waved her hands.

"There's no need, it's in the house," the lady said with a kind smile.

Vanya's brows shot up, but she didn't argue with the lady as she smiled and left. It's free coffee after all. However, it did make her wonder why she was being so charitable.

Taking in a deep breath, she shrugged it off and took a sip of her coffee, and a bite of her donut and went back to her phone.

Scrolling through her phone, she was frustrated when she only found articles about Ben's time in the Umbrella Academy. She didn't care about that, she wanted to know about his personal life, what he's been up to in this reality. Settling with Wikipedia, she opened the article on him.

Her eyes skimmed through the introductory details, knowing all of them until she hit a part she didn't know.

Unlike some of the former members of the Umbrella Academy, Ben Hargreeves has completely put down the mantle of superhero and instead has taken up the life of a regular citizen. Currently, Ben is a neurosurgeon at the Presbyterian Hospital in New York.

Her brows shot up, followed by a smile.

So Ben became a doctor? She wasn't at all surprised. He always was a kindhearted individual, it made perfect sense that his profession involved helping and saving people's lives. She was happy for him, immensely so. Glad that he survived and made something of his life, outside the oppressive academy that only got him killed.

Finishing her coffee, she tapped on the article on Five however before it could open, the doors to the donut shop banged open, prompting her to turn on the spot, mouthful of donut still in her mouth.

"Vanya?!"

Vanya nearly choked on her donut.

Klaus was standing on the entrance of the donut shop, looking exactly like he had in her timeline, nothing at all changed. However, what she couldn't believe was Ben who was standing behind him, looking at her with the same amount of shock and surprise as Klaus.

Ok, so, small chapter I know but trust me it's worth it for what's to come next chapter. I'm still kinda settling the story, but hey, at least I answered one of the questions you guys had but also gave you a hundred more questions at the same time!

So thank's to everyone for liking this story, commenting, and reading, it really makes my day! So please keep the comments coming!

Oh, before I go, if anyone curious, Vanya's car is an Audi r8.